# Pixels vs Private Journal

The clearest difference is rating: Pixels at 4.8 against Private Journal's 4.5. Pixels also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Private Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 11 days). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Private Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 20 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 97% of Pixels's written reviews are positive against 100% of Private Journal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pixels ships an update every 11 days, Private Journal every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixels | Private Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixels-mood-tracker-and-journal/id1668460700/reviews)** | [4.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-mindspace/id6760581621/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 96.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 77 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Teo Vogel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481910140) | [Artefact Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1500232554) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixels-mood-tracker-and-journal/id1668460700)

This app helps you track your daily mood and emotions by turning them into a visual map of color. You can record your mood with a tap, add details with subpixels and custom tags, and use it as a companion for therapy. It offers a private and minimalist experience with no ads.

**Highlights:** Visual mood map, Daily pixel color entries, Subpixel tracking for mood variations, Custom tags and notes, Therapy companion tool, Minimalist and private design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pixels Cloud+ | $1.99 | per month |
| Pixels Cloud+ | $1.99 | per month |
| Pixels Cloud+ | $21.99 | per year |
| Pixels Cloud+ | $21.99 | per year |
| Pixels+ | $4.99 | one-time |


### Private Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-mindspace/id6760581621)

This app helps you cultivate a more mindful life through daily journaling, mood and habit tracking, and creative sketching. It offers a private space to organize thoughts, set intentions, and review your life's journey with powerful search and media browsing tools.

**Highlights:** Rich text journaling with photos/videos, Mood and habit tracking with custom templates, Freeform drawing with Apple Pencil support, Intentions and task management, Location tagging and map view, Face ID/Touch ID security, iCloud sync

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixels free?

Pixels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Private Journal free?

Private Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pixels or Private Journal?

Pixels is rated higher. Pixels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Private Journal averages 4.5 from 20 ratings.

### Do Pixels or Private Journal have ads?

Neither Pixels nor Private Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixels or Private Journal?

Pixels ships an update every 11 days, and Private Journal every 5 days. Most recently, Pixels was updated on September 27, 2026 and Private Journal on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*